Discover Kismet Olfactive

Meant to Be

There is meaning in the name. Kismet comes from the Persian word qismat, translating to “fate” or “what is meant to be”, a sentiment closely tied to founder Shabnam Tavakol’s own family story. Born and raised in California to Iranian parents, she brings together Persian heritage and a Western upbringing to create fragrances shaped by the unexpected connections, memories and moments that make a life.

Stories Told Through Scent

Poetry, nostalgia, music, human connection, Eastern philosophies and the places we inhabit all find their way into Kismet Olfactive’s world. Tavakol also draws on ancient Eastern scent traditions, classic French perfumery and contemporary fragrance culture, allowing seemingly different influences to meet within bold, unisex perfumes. Rather than following a single formula, each scent begins with a feeling or idea and becomes its own olfactory story.

Small Batch, Big Feeling

After studying fragrance creation at the Grasse Institute of Perfumery and working with fragrance houses and master perfumers in Paris and New York, Tavakol founded Kismet as a space for creative freedom. Its fragrances are formulated in small batches, with carefully selected oils and raw materials at the heart of the process. The result is independent perfumery that feels intimate, characterful and considered, made for anyone who wants their fragrance to say something a little more personal.